As OTAs and training camp approach, Arizona Cardinals players are jockeying for position on the depth chart. Starting lineups could be determined by how players perform over the summer. These position battles will have a massive effect on the final look of the team come September.
Arizona Cardinals biggest position battles this summer
Interior defensive line
This is a good problem to have. A year ago, the interior defensive line “position battle” was full of backup-level talents who saw playing time because of a lack of competition. Now, the Cardinals have an abundance of talent at the position.
In free agency, Arizona brought in Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell as an injection of veteran talent on the interior. They followed it up by drafting Walter Nolen in the first round of the 2025 draft.
With 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson expected to play primarily on the inside, the Cardinals have four players fighting for three spots. Tomlinson will likely command the starting nose tackle role. Campbell, Robinson, and Nolen will battle for the other two spots. Of course, all of these players will end up playing significant snaps during the season.
Running back
This isn’t a position battle in the traditional sense. As long as James Conner remains healthy, he’s the Cardinals’ starting running back. The question is just how much Trey Benson will eat into Conner’s carries.
Benson, a 2024 third-round draft pick, showed flashes of starting-caliber play in his rookie season. He only earned 63 carries, but he rushed for 291 yards and a touchdown. Once James Conner finally starts to fade, Trey Benson is the obvious successor. Benson’s camp performance could help determine how quickly that transition comes.
Edge rusher
The Cardinals beefed up their defensive front this offseason. That included adding Josh Sweat and Jordan Burch to what was already a crowded edge group. Sweat will be an immediate starter, but the other spot is still up for grabs.
Baron Browning, B.J. Ojulari, Zaven Collins, and Jordan Burch will all compete for the starting job opposite Josh Sweat. Collins and Browning are the early front-runners, but Ojulari and Burch will have the opportunity to prove themselves at training camp.
In all likelihood, Jonathan Gannon will rotate his pass rushers to keep each player fresh. With this many starting-caliber players on the edge, the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive front should be significantly better than it was last season.